President Obama often talks about a lack of political will or political courage in Congress on difficult issues. Today, he has the chance to show some himself.

The primary obstacle to the sweeping gun-control legislation he demanded in the wake of the horrific December school shootings in Connecticut is currently a dozen or so Democratic senators who have balked at the presidents plan.

Two weeks ago, Harry Reid, the leader of the blue team in the Senate, yanked the centerpiece of Obamas plan, presumably with the consent or at least knowledge of the president.

Today, Obama will make a speech in conjunction with the National Day to Demand Action by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, led by New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. (The groups name is misleading. The mayors do oppose illegal guns, but their primary purpose is making more guns illegal.) The group is currently running an ad campaign against vulnerable red state...

--snip--

Senate Democrats are not thrilled, especially the five facing re-election next year in states carried by Mitt Romney in 2012. Bloombergs group has already held up a Democratic primary for a vacant House seat in Illinois as his model for next year. Bloomberg pushed cash into the Democratic primary to defeat a gun-rights Democrat last month.

Facing a billionaire on a mission is never great. Facing one over an issue that animates the liberal, activist core of the Democratic primary electorate is a total bummer.

Obama joining Bloombergs Day to Demand Action is pretty close to an endorsement of the mayoral squeeze play. But Bloomberg knows that to start applying serious pressure to Republicans on gun control, he needs to either get Democrats lined up on the subject or continue the partys purge of moderates in the hopes of an eventual gun ban...

obama is desperate for some type of near term legislative victory, even a win on something in the senate. The 2014 election cycle is starting and the results will be a referendum based on the economy. Even Ashley Dudd was smart enough to figure this one out.

RC:”But the real objective here is not so much to sway public opinion but to let these lawmakers know that Bloomberg is watching them and will make life difficult next year for those who do not join his and Obamas effort for a gun ban. Senate Democrats are not thrilled, especially the five facing re-election next year in states carried by Mitt Romney in 2012. Bloombergs group has already held up a Democratic primary for a vacant House seat in Illinois as his model for next year. Bloomberg pushed cash into the Democratic primary to defeat a gun-rights Democrat last month. Facing a billionaire on a mission is never great. Facing one over an issue that animates the liberal, activist core of the Democratic primary electorate is a total bummer. Obama joining Bloombergs Day to Demand Action is pretty close to an endorsement of the mayoral squeeze play. But Bloomberg knows that to start applying serious pressure to Republicans on gun control, he needs to either get Democrats lined up on the subject or continue the partys purge of moderates in the hopes of an eventual gun ban”

If Bloomy ends up helping electing Republicans in the Senate in 2014 that will be sweet justice and irony.

9
posted on 03/29/2013 5:20:59 AM PDT
by sickoflibs
(To GOP : Any path to US citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)

I saw the president on TV trying to get support for new gun laws and I wanted to let you know we oppose any new federal restrictions on the second amendment.
New laws only burden law abiding citizens.
Look at the folks in Staten Island, months after Sandy, who cannot properly defend their property from squatters and looters due to the idiocy of NY laws.
Would you support a universal check on voters? Please oppose further erosion on the 2nd amendment!

11
posted on 03/29/2013 6:36:07 AM PDT
by outofsalt
("If History teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything")

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